Evening Star Newspaper, May 10, 1898, Page 11

THE EVENING STAR. PUBLISHED DAILY EACEPT SUNDAY. AT THE STAR BUILDINGS, 1161 Penns7lvaaia Avera, lita 3%, by The Evening Star Newspaper Com Ss. H. SAUFFMANN, ee Yew York Offce, 49 Potter Building The Evening Star is served te subecribers ta the city by carriers, ot their own account, at 10 cents per week. o- 44 certs per monta. tes at the counter 2 cents each. By mail—anywhere in the United States or Canada—postage prepaid—50 cents per month. Saturday Qrintunte Shee foreign postage added, $3.05 Entered at the Post’ Otlice at Washington, D. C, as second-cla. + mall matter.) £7 All mail subscriptions must be pall In advance. Rates of advertising made known on application. ar, $1 per year, with Pata. Che Foening Siar. Pages 11-14, WASHINGTON, D. C., TUESDAY, MAY 10. 1898_FOURTEEN PAGES. AS STICKNEY SAW IT Former Naval Officer Describes the Fight in Manila Bay. STOOD ON THE OLYMPIA'S BRIDGE Escape of the American Ships Little Less Than Marvelous. MORE SPANISH TREACHERY —— Mewing is the story of the Manila ht Which Joseph L. Stickney, a former officer correspondent of the New rk Herald, sent to his paper from Hong MANILA, Philippine Islands, on Board sship Olympia, May 1 (via Hong one Spanish flag fl today. Not Spa' except as our prize. 1 200 Spanish dead and 500 to ed attest to the accuracy of the one ‘ked the Spanish P nm at Cavite morning. He swept five times along the ‘done of the most brilliant in modern warfare. ‘That our toss fs trifling adds to the pleas- ure of victory without det ting from its ue. The number of hits our vessels re- eived proved how brave and stubborn was e made t Spanish forces. as it may appear, none of our s killed and only eight were wound- » who were wounded suffered only ht injuries It was just § o'clock, a bright moonlight t. but the flagship passed Corr sland without a sign being given t Spaniards were aware of its approach. The First Spanish Shot Fired. Not until the fiagship was a mile beyond Corregidor w: a gun fired. Then one heavy shot went sereaming over the Ra- leteh a the Olympi followed by a sec- ond. which fell far astern. The replied. The rently, tery. which fired slowed down to barely men were allowed to ms. modore so that we were within ity of Manila at dayb leigh, the Corcord and the Boston explodiag, shore bat- shells the Concord’s ly inside no more. steera é sleep alongside Dewey had timed our ar- five miles of Kk. - then sighted the Spanish squadron, Admiral Montejo. commanding, off anced Kahvee with ac- .") Here the Spantares ed navy yard called Ca- s flag was flying on the i cruiser Refna Cristina. a, of 3,200 t hy 1 to the port the cruisers Antonio de Quire General L ip remained un- of the action. the Attack. tes flag flying at all ships moved to the n line ahead, with a speed of eight first passing in front of la, tion was begun by three = m nti guns powerful enough nd a shell over us at a distance of five ‘oncord’s boomed out a re- © batteries h two shots. No re fired, because Comm: at- destruc- t engag. th t nding death an¢ crowded city. lards Explode Two Mines. ed Cavite two very powerful es we ex ad of PD. This was at minutes evidently volur the harm air was rience with tor- had been over us. fter cry. mem- from the throats of hoars: ght up in tur- er seaman or had Its rung utte out uw May Fire When Ready, Gridley.” The Olympia was now ready to begin the ht. Dewey, r Lamber his chief of staff, an aid and myself, utenant Rees and . Who conned the forward y was in the conning to risk los- shell idley ia nineteen minutes of of 5.500 yards, ‘aptain Gr s it was the ‘ouraged to fire r distance, while Their ship and hot for us. am of shot was varied lis, water nh the ur hull and ri; nh would la: or cut ¢ 1 that was coming straight rd bridge fortunate- n 100 feet away. A ing exactly over the es and myself. tings in line d ju nder Com- gouged a hole in the re plentiful. at being ex- fire from all our nger and chatted few nervous fellows 4 not help dodging mechanically when shells would burst right over them or close aboard, or would strike the water and pass overhead, with the peculiar spluttering roar made by a tumbling rifled projectile. The Olympia Under Heavy Fire. Still the flagship steered for the center of the Spanish line, and, as our other ships were astern, the Olympia received most of the Spaniards’ attention. Owing to our deep draught, Commodore Dewey felt constrained to change his course at a distance of 4,000 yards and run parallel to the Spanish column. “Qpen with all guns,” he said, and the ship brought her port broadside bearing. ‘The roar of the flagship's five-inch raptd- firers was followed by a deep diapason of her after turret eight-inchers. Soon our other vessels were equally hard at work, and we could see that our shells were mak- ing te harbor hotter for the Spaniards than they had made the approach for us. Protected by tneir shore batteries and made safe from close attack by shallow water, the Spaniards were In a strong po- sition. They put up a gallant fight. The Spanish s! were sailing back and forth behind the Castilla, and their fire, too, was hot. Explosion on the Baltimore. One shot struck the Baltimcre and pass- ed clear through her, fortunately hitting no ene. Another ripped up her main deck, disabled a six-inch gun and exploded a box of three-pounder ammunition, wound- ing eight men. © Olympia was struck abreast the gun in the ward room by a shell which burst outside, doing litile damage. The signal halyards were cut from Lieu- tenant Brumby’s hand’ on the after bridge. A shell entered the Foston’s port quarter and burst in Ensign Dodridge’s state room, starting a hot fire, and fire was also caus- ed by a shell which burst in the port ham- mock netting Both these fires were quick- ly put out. Another shell passed through the Bos- ton’s foremast just in front of Captain Wildes, on the bridge. After having made four rvns along the Spanish line, finding the chart incorre:t, ieutenant Calkins, the Olympia’s navi- gator, told the commodore he believed he could take the ship nearer the enemy, with « lead going to watch the depth of water. ‘The flagship started over the course for the fifth time, running within 2,000 yards of the Spanish vessels. ‘At this range even six-pounders were ef- fective, and the storm of shells poured upon the unfortunate Spanish began to show marked resuits. ‘Three of the enemy's vessels were seen burning and their fire slackened. Just a Stop for Breakfast. On finishing this run Commodore Dewey decided to give the men breakfast, as they had been at the guns two hours, with only one cup of coffee to sustain them. Action ceased temporarily at twenty-five minutes of 8 o'clock, the other ships pass- ing the flagship and cheering lustily. Our ships remained beyond range of the enemy’s guns until ten minutes of 1 o'clock, when the signal for close action again went up. The Baltimore had_ the place of nonor in the lead, with the flag- ship fuiiowing and the other ships as be- fore. ‘The Baltimore began firing at the Span- ish ships and batteries at sixteen minute: a series of hits rget_ practice. The Spaniards re wiy, and the commodore sig: h, the Boston, the Concord inner harbo' my's ships. @reught the little Petrel to move within 1,000 yards. swiftly but accurately, she everything still the light nled firing A flying nh fi 4 her ships were also dcing thelr whole , and soon not one red and yellow en- ained aloft, except on a battery up st. The anish flagship and the had long been burning - fiercely, st vessel to be abandoned w: ntonio de Ulloa, which lurched nk. White Flag Hoisted. Then the Spanish flag on tho arsenal staff was hauled down, and at half-past s hoisted there. s made to the Petrel to destroy in the inner harvor, and eutenant Hughes, with an armed boat's , set fire to the Don Juan de Austria, Marquis Duero, the Isia de Cuba and the ‘correo. the Don over and 12 o'clock a white flag w: Signal wa all the vessels and mary into our transport Mantla small craft fell large ats and iture or destroy Spanish squadron,” we Dewey's or er were in- structions mere effectuaily carried out. Within seven hours after arriving on the scene of acticn nothing remained to be VIOLATED FLAG OF ‘TRUCE. Another Instance of Spanish Treach- ery at Arsenal of Cavite. New York Herald correspondent following supplemental account of the Manila fight: HONG KO The sen anda’ rly in the ng of Monday, the day after the bat- Manila bay, Commander Lamberton nyself were ordered to go to the Ca- rsenal and take possession. trel took us within 5uy yards of g, when we were surprised to see I was still occupied by about rmed with Mauser magazine 1 white flag had been hoisted on the y before, Commander Lam- id not understand what the ards intended to do, and before leav- ing the Petre! he ordered Commander Wood to p his men at the guns, with ions that if we were not back in one should open fire on the arsenal. y an Armed Guard. Surrounded On landing we were met by Captain Sos- tea of th panish navy, next in rank at this station to Admiral Montojo, who had been wounded and conveyed to Manila. Commander Lamberton, Lieutenant Wood of the Petrel and myself went with Cap- tain toa to the arsenal headquarte: which was at once surrounded by an armed guard. Cor nder Lamberton told Captain Sos- toa that he was surprised to see his men under arms, after they had surrendered the before. in Sostoa replied that they had not surrendered, but had merely hoisted the site flag in order to enable them to re- women and children to places of ander Lamberton said that when uish flag came down and the white a t up no other interpretation could be put upon it than that it was an uncon- al rrender, and the women and children ought not to have been there any- how. Captain § na remarked that we came so early in the day they had no time to re- move them. If we had not begun the fight So soon the women would have been out of the way. der Lamberton reminded him paniards had fired the first shot. ided, he was not there to’ Ss. He had come, as Com- Dewey's representative, to take ion of the arsenal. All Spaniards © said, must surrender their arms rsonus as prisoners of war, otherwise ps would open fire on them, ‘Tried to Gain Time. Then Captain Sostoa said he could do nothing, not being in command, and would have to consult his superiors. ‘ Commander Lamberton refused to recog- nize any one but the sentor officer actually present, who, he sald, must comply with Commodore Dewey's conditions, Captain Sostoa asked to have the terms of surrender put down in writing, which was done, these being the conditions: Without further delay all Spanish off- cers and men must be withdrawn, and no buildings or stores must be Injured. As Commodore Dewey does not wish further hostility with the Spanish naval forces, the Spanish officers will be paroled, and the forees at the arsenal will deliver all their small arms.”" Captain Sostoa then pleaded for more time. The talk had all been in Spanish, and the time when Commander Wood was to open fire was already nearly up. Conse- quently, Commander Lamberton gave the Spaniards two hours’ time. if the white flag was not rehoisted over the arsenal at noon, he said, we should re- open fire. We returned to the Petrel just in time and started back across the bay to report to the commodore. Up Goes the White Flag. At a quarter to 11 o'clock the white flag was hoisted, but when we went to take possession of the arsenal in the afternoon we found that every seaman had marched off to Manila, carrying his Mauser rifle with him. Having learned that evening that the governor of Manila had refused to let the cable company transmit our messages, Commodore Dewey sent the merchant steamer Zafiro a short distance down the bay and had her cut the cable. Having no instruments for working a cable, we could not keep up communica- tion, and the governor would not let the cable company send its operators to our ships. No one can complain that Commodore Dewey has been slow in finishing off his work, but he would have done it even soon- er but for an accident to one of the Ra- leigh’s pumps, which detained him in Mirs bay two da and also the slow speed of which transport vessels are capable. But for these delays the Spanish ships would have been destroyed on Thu instead of Sunday, as in all other re: Commodore Dewey's plans Were complete. Death of Frank B, Rando During the pa entrance of Manila bay on Saturday night Frank B. Randall, chief engineer of the revenue cutter McCulloch, died suddenly frcm heat and prostration. He was bi ied at sea the next day. Although the McCulloch was of no value as a fighting machine Commodore Dewey several times made use of her to overhaul sailing craft, She kept at a safe distance from the scene of action on Sunday, but went down the bay to meet the English merchant steamer Esmeralda, which was coming in, and made an excelient record for speed as a Qspaich boat while bringing us over to Hong Kong on Thursday. There were three ciyilian spectators of the battle at a distance of ten miles from the fighting line, but that incident hardly warrants the claim of any newspaper that it had a steamer specially chartered to ac- company the squadron. Natives Try to Pillage. As soon as the native: shore learned that the Spaniards had been driven out of Cavite they began coming in crowds to pillage. Finally, they became so bold as to attack the hospital, and it was necessary either to send a guard of American men to protect the wounded or transfer them to Manila. Tke latter was done on Wednes. day, Commodore Dewey utilizing captured steamers for this duty All the hous: rds in the town of San Roque, ne: were absolutely gutted by the natives, who even ventured into the arsenal and carried off many boat- loads of furniture and stores before the marine guard was posted at the gate: The Spanish defeat was advertised for miles away by the ships burning in Cavite b The Castilla, which was set on fire in Sunday morning's’ battle, was a mag- nificent mass of flames twelve hours later, und continued to burn all night, with bril- liant intensity. I boarded the Don Juan de Austria, Isla de Luzon and Marquis del Onero while they were still burning. I found them fit- ted up with fine Canet rapid fire guns and mest of the modern improvements. Left Big Guns Loaded. I did not discover until after we had spent the afternoon in their vicinity that all their large guns had been left loaded with powder and shell, making them peculiarly dangerous to small boats. The guns generally laid level just above the surface of the water. As several of them were pointed at the arsenal, their charges were first drawn, then “drowned,” as the fire might reach them at any mo- ment. When our ships drew away for breakfast Sunday morning the temper of the men vas well illustrated by the almost tearful appeal of one gun captain to Commander amberton: stop now! Let's finish hell with breakfast Old Purdy, a privileged petty officer, suse he has served in the navy or army ifty years, was greeted by the com- day, when the old man and said: I hope you won't fight on the th.rd of . commodore. sk not?” d Commodore Dewey. * the old man answered, “I got licked last time L fought on that dat Pure cello had been with Hooker at Chan- ville, and he did not like that anni- Suffered From the Heat. our men suffered greatly from All heat during the action, for they were shut the up below, with furnaces blazing and the tropical sun pouring down its heat rays. Probably several of the men would have succumbed but for the excitement of battle. Sighty Spanish bodies were found un- buried on Monday night, and we gave them burial Tuesday morning, calling in a Roman Catholic priest to read the burial service over their remains. The bodies presented a horrible sight. One had the head almost wholly carried away. Another had been struck in the stomach by a large projectile, cutting ev- erything away to the backbone. One very large man, apparently an offi- cer, was not only mangled, but burned, and all the bodies were frightfully bloated. To add to the horror of the scene several lean wolf-like dogs had discovered the bodies before we had. Probably there are nowhere a more in- terested or more thoroughly happy set of persons than the group of wives of Ameri- can naval officers who have been living in Hong Kong in order to be near their hus- bands. Having heard little news, except alarm- ing rumors, since the squadron left here, they are now recovering their normal se- renity, with the certainty that their hus- bands are safe. There are about a dozen of these officers’ wives forming a little navy colony here. Some Wonderful Escapes. The more I recall the events of last Sunday’s battle at Manila, the more mirac- ulous it seems that no American lost his life. ‘The shell that entered the Boston's ward- reem was going straight for Paymaster Martin, when i@ exploded within five feet of him, yet he was not touched. Aboard the Olympia the surgeon’s oper- ating table was placed in the wardroom. Chaplain. Frazier, who was assisting the surgeon, had his head out of one of the six-pounder gun ports, when a shell struck the ship's side, less than a yard away. The chaplain pulled his head in just in time to escape having it blown off, as the shell irstantly burst. Three fragments of one shell struck the Olympia within a_radius of fifteen feet from Commodore Dewey. The armor piercing projectile that ex- ploded the box of three-pounder ammuni- tion on board the Baltimore passed between two groups of men, so close to both that it is difficult to see how all escaped. Spaniards Not Well Prepared. If the Spaniards had properly prepared for our coming they would have killed many of our men, but they had not intend- ed to make taeir fight at Cavite. Among other official papers captured in Admiral Montojo’s office was his acknowl- The regular permanent family circulation of The Evening Star in Washington is more than double that of any other paper, whether published in the morn- ing or in the afternoon. As a medium for unobjec- tionable advertisements it there- fore stands unequaled and un- approachable. edgment of the receipt of the decision of the council »f war officers to mass his guns and ships at Subig bay, where much better conditions for defense existed. This was prevented only by Commodore Dewey's prompt action. A few days would have sufficed to remove all their guns and ships to Subig bay, where there is a narrow en- trance and the water is sheal, and a plung- ing fire from the shore woul@ have made victory very difficult for us te attain. Warning the Speniards. As I have. already stated, after the de- struction of the enemy’s ships and fortifi- cations and the battle was ower, Commo- dore Dewey anchored the fleet off the city of Manila and sent word to Governor Gen- eral Augusti that the port off Manila was now blockaded. With this notice went the plainly worded warning that if a single shot were fired at any ship of the American fleet from Manila the city would be laid in ashes. Commodore Dewey also made a demand for the use of the cable from Manila to Hong Kong. No reply to this demand was received, and the cable was cut on Monday. Never in the history of battles on sea or land has there been a more complete clear- ing out of an enemy of equal or superior force achieved with so little harm to the victors. Rendy for Another Fight. Not one American was killed. After the battle every American ship was ready to fight another similar action immediately. This complete victory was the product of forethought, cool, well-balanced judgment, discipline and bravery. The position taken by the Spaniards, coupled with their heavy guns mounted on shore, gave them an enormous advantage. Only our good luck or the bad aim of the Spanish gunners saved us from a terrible Joss of life Where every vessel in the American fleet proved itself so efficient I cannot draw distinctions, but when the ships passed each other, close aboard, after the action was over, the heartiest cheers heard after those for the commodore were given to the litle gunboat Petrel. ‘Torpedo Boat Dashes at the Flagship. During the first hour of the fight a Span- ish torpedo boat was seen sneaking along shore ahead of the Olympia. Suddenly this torpedo boat turned and made a quick and plucky dash at the flagship. The commander of that Spanish craft must have been ignorant of the power of modern guns or utterly indifferent to death. Not until she had been twice hit by shots from the Olympia’s secondary battery did the daring little boat turn back. She reach- ed the beach just in time to save her crew from drowning. Two other Spanish torpedo boats made more cautious attempts to come out into .the harbor to attack us, bat one was im- mediately sunk by our fire and the other quickly abandoned the attack. CAPTURE OR DESTROY. The Terse Command Sent to Admiral Dewey. The order sent to Admiral Dewey under which he acted in the attack upon Manila Was remarkable for tersences, conciseness and comprehensiven: It was a model one in every respect, but in none, in the minds of naval men and strategi more than in the absolute liberty it conferred pon Dewey, to proceed after his own fashion in accomplishing the task that the department had set for him. Here is the text of the order: WASHINGTON, April 24, 1898. DEWEY, Hong Kong, China r commenced between the United te: ad Spain. Proceed at once to Philippine Isl- ands. Commence operations at once, par- ticularly against the Spanish fleet.’ You must captur Is or destroy them. utmost endeavors. sned) Lo? +e -. DISTRICT NAVAL RESERV L Conference Report Agreed to by the House, Just before the adjournment of the House yesterday afternoon Mr. Hilborn the conference report on the biil ing the naval battalion for the District of Columbia The statement accompanying the report said: first amendment of the House pro- vided that the battalion contemplated by the above named bill should be a part of the militla already authorized for the Dis- trict of Columbia, instead of in addition thereto, as in the original bill. The second amendme sed to strike out tha word ‘relative,’ it would give the staff officers absolute instead of relative rani full and free interchange of views, conferees agreed to recede from the House amendments, and 5s now r ed the bill stands as it was enate.”” Mey (1 exas) made a bri danger of legislating at the army and navy ¢ e said Congress was united in a deternunation to prosecute the early and victorious end, on guard against an in the army and nav erninen He referred to recent journa expressions ting the country upon the grow entiment favora}le to a stronger navy and army as ¢ ir. Hilborn, explaining the co: pert, said it had appeared that the militia und complement of the District was filled the naval battalion could net be or as a part of the present militia. The report wa pte not voting, but preseni, ince ber present to a quorum. At 4:50 the House adjour pending the disposition of a motion of Mr. Hilbo to reconsider the vote which the ¢ ence report. adopted, Mr. Isalleygn again raised the point of a9 quoru District Naval Battalion. The bill establishing a naval battalion of the District National Guard, as p the Senate and accepted by the House con- ferees, provides as follows: That in ag- dition to the companies of volunteer militia now authorized in the District of Columbia there may be organized not more than four companies of naval militia, which shall constitute a battalion to be known as the raval battalion of the National Guard of the District of Columbia. Sec. 2. That the officers of the naval bat- talion shall consist of one commander, and a staff to consist of one executive oilicer With rank of lieutenant commander, one navigating officer with the rank of lieu- tenant, one signal, ordnance and equip- ment officer with rank of lieutenant, one chief engincer, one paymaster, and one surgeon, each with the relative rank of Meutenant. Sec. 3. That each company shall consist of one lieutenant, one lieutenant, junior grade, two ensigns, and not less than sixty nor more than one hundred ‘petty officers and enlisted men. Sec. 4. That in all matters not otherwise specially previded for, the provisions of law which provide for the organization of the militia of the District of Columbia shall apply to the naval battalion. Sec. 5, That general routine of duty, dis- cipline, and exercises of the naval bat- talion, and parts thereof, stall conform with the laws, customs and usages of the navy, as far as the same apply, and where they do not apply then such routine of duty, discipline, and exercises shall con- form to the la’ governing the volunteer forces of the District of Columbia. —_ Cuba and the Philippines. The M Street High School was addressed yesterday afternoon by Dr. W. A. Croffut on “Cuba and the Philippines,” with an ac- companiment of maps and charts of Ha- vena and Manila harbors, from the Navy Department. He will address the Potomac Literary Club tonight and Business High School Thursday. ys AMBITION OF GOMEZ Insurgent Leader Wants Credit for Defeating the Spaniards, SOMERFORD GIVES INSIDE FACTS Messengers Start for Washington With Important Dispatches. ABOUT CLIMATIC DANGER eee OSS Fred O. Somerford, a correspondent of the New York Herald, arrived at Key W last night, having just come, after a jour- ney attended with great peril, from the headquarters of Gomez. He left the Cuban general May 4, and w the last American to converse with the in- surgent leader. For more than two months he has been either with Gomez or other in- surgent chiefs. Mr. Somerford says of the insurgents’ strength: “The insurgents have now about men in the vicinity of Gomez's camp—that is, within a radius of thirty miles. The best troops east of the Jucaro-Moron tro- cha are the division commanded by Gen- eral Gonzales. He has S800 infantry, who are well armed and well disciplined. One company is armed with Mauser rifles, which were captured from the Spanish. For these rifles there is but a small supply of ammunition. The other companies are armed with the long Remington, which throws a bullet of 43 caliber. ‘This ts the Weapon in common use among the insur- gents. They prefer it to the Mauser in spite of the latter’s repeating property. Gomez's Immediate Command. “Gomez's immediate command consists of a bodyguard of 150 cavalry and 75 infan- try, under command of Major Joseph Des- rampes. Desrampes is an American from New Orleans and a good artillerist. This force of 3,500 is @ll that are in fighting shape just at present, but if there were arms and equipments it could be swelled to probably 30,000. Gomez told me he wanted 40,000 guns to equip an army larg enough to drive the Spanish from the ii land. He wants long Remingtons or Spring- fields for the infantry and carbines of the same character for the cavalry. “I believe if arms are sent to Cuba for the insurgents they would better be Spring- field rifles, of which our government has a large quantity in its arsenals. It is a sim- ple and effective gun. The Cubans are not accustomed to nor have they the experience and facilities to care for complicated re- peating weapons. Twenty thousand m2 chets—weapons of wonderful effectiveness in Cuban hands—are also needed. A Wily Ola Man. Of tho political aspirations of Gomez Mr. S merford sa: emez is a wily old man, and, I think, rot without future political aspi the government which will be forn close of the war. He does not w United States to land an army in Cua cept it ment of artilte in with him. Gomez know will defeat Flagco etic: 1 the w hg it lands on ( soil. He also knows that the stance he cculd afford in such a campaign would be unimportant and insignificant, except a an adviser regarding the country to th: cemmar ders, “He realizes that the Insurgents fons in lat the the woul? ut but orry figure in the rapid opera- tions sure to follow an \ unless menths p armed and drilled thore of ¢ Gomez doe: credit of owing to robbe ating Spain and not wish hi > had to ha ‘0 ard free Cuba 1 a party which left Gomez's camp a few days before I did s William D Smith. We came into Key West together. Smith is t urer of s¢ tions from Gomez to Gon trada Palma, President Zeneral M In these urge: to atte in Cu the President and ( mpt to land any United from disease also th 1 with and food, on with a bloc he can eas) Blanco ¢ a without a assu I suppose these communications will be at Washington as entitled t consideration. In my opinion a polic. on these recommendations of Gomez will e like a ghost to confront the American people afterward. If Gomez really believe that he can deal with Blanco and end the war he is mistaken. True, with the ive sympathy and support of the United § and the tance of th» fleet there is no doubt that he can eventually win. But 1 firmly believe that such a warfare would not be ended a year from now. “It will be months, even under the most favorable conditions, b2fore Gomez can put an army in the field capable of meeting 3lanco in open battle and defeating hi en the veterans of Gomez's and Garci. sions are not good soldiers, as Ameri- cans reckon soldiers. They are good guer- illas, but have no knowledge of real mili- tar Neither have their officers. I do not believe the insurgents can in any essfully numbers _suce town, such as } open f fal ack a fortified Havana. In the 1 defeat them. Not Ready to Fight in Open Fie “Because the insurgents in small num- bers have been able to continue an un2q@l conflict for years has led many people to be- lieve they can easily defeat the Spaniards if armed. P2rhaps they might if drilled for six months, for it must be remembered that, with the exception of a few thousand now actually under arms, any formidable Cuban army must be composed of compara- tively raw recruits, of infinitely less mili- tary training and knowledg2 than the aver- age American volunteer. By American vol- unteers I do not mean National Guardsmen, They march out of their armories better soldiers than Gomez can produce, ev2n with our assistance, in three years. “I do not say this to disparage the Cu- bans. I have *spoused their cause and ap- preciate fully the wonderful sacrifices they have made for liberty. But the question of ending this war is no longer a matter-of sentiment, and only facts should be consid- er2d. Blanco will never be defeated unless United States troops enter Cuba and do the job. The alternative to decisive ection of this kind is a prolongation of the war for montks and months. This means ihe star- yation of thousands of women and children. All the island now oecupied by the Span- jards is under military rule, and ihe stores are net permitted to sell any food to the people. All is reserved for tne soldiers. Little Danger From the Climate. “Now, about climatic danger. The great- er part of such talk fs nonsense. I belive mortality from disease in an American army in Cuba in any season will be less than among the Cubans. I say this after seven years’ residence on the island and mor? than a year with the insurgents. The heat !n Cuba now and for two months to come is not nearly so severe as »ummer heat in a majority of the states. Danger yellow fever and smallpox is greatly | rated. It does 2xist to 4 -nt_ in coast tow: P sanita’ cautior the mortality is very The nights are cool and ther> is heavy dew. “It United States troops are sent into Cuba they should be provided with tents. If they are so provided, observe ordinary nitary precautions and are supplied wita Wholesome food they can gu through a campaign with as little danger from climat- ie causes as if the scene of operations were at Chickamauga Park. “Forty thousand troops from the United States are enough to annihilate Blanco’s | army and take Havana, and three-fourths of trem can return after a campaign of a month. The Spanish soldiers will fight. they remind me of pack mules. As lonz as they are fed they can be driven. Their officers literally drive them into battle, gen- erally taking “position behind the troops to urge them on. They are enduring, and will stand hard treatment. If United States troops invade y time within two montis net more than 3,000 insurgent in position to co-operate. ‘Thése are now stationed in Hava Pinar del Rio} provinces, under ¢ Rodricuez, and | Diaz. These troops, such as t 1 be available within five da ren tiem, Gomez could rot get to H presi ima frv body of troops an hour. nded scon they — soe HORRORS OF Blot on Spain's Exeut n Phroug British § CUBA, The of the Loadon Chronicle, Cuba, Iss, arked great Cuban Buer (Christmas) and Year); but the pen re- tibe the painful irony of a period of ce and goodwill in this ap- palin; © of .war and famine once know. the Pearl of the Anitill I have just completed an extensive tour through the western and central provine or Spanish Cuba, and the mi truction make one fear Jate—that Cuba will peopled, ravishe reopen w to ery and des- at action is too simply be an’ un- desert for a new race to and civilize. Where in August I ns with 4,000 reconcentrados, now “) left, and the residue can weeks longer. Gene 0 has improved matters to this ex- cultivation zones have be which the few Cubans strong enou may cultivate etabdles, and arch for sweet poiatoes, risking out- by of women tain robbery the guerrilla, or ¢ sleanings by the hun- e first fort. As an enor- majority of the starving are wome girls, boy capable of bes arms havi ped out to join fighting prothe: reference to bei h his family, few dare ventur s, and the labor of digging nis | ‘1 Rio, near large towns, tie | ks very promising,’ and cultivation is limited it will give work to a few. At Artemisa and ail n the w . and closed in by the Mariel Trocha, tt f every settlement dead bodies | it: in the huts skir ns—hidcous ke es of groun their velied and Lair pr women and that are so I seidom f vana prov \« © northern coast, it ia even worse. | ard tewns on the Central e distr: shes is I rains hay n] the 1 Waste ing av and ey ery har nd thou ul prise: | irains that run arc dying soldiers. At every t thorities, bota military a erance or measu i witne not rourd ALG for er the © police, that waited do! matter poral of y child and on every ted the poor or help, s) all,” the said military commandante Domingo; “you don't know ‘This was ati women nd the rigors of on tracion” er than the white farmers. any places the whites have all died, who ¢ tainly can exist on roots for a considera- ble time. At Cazcar many bodies lay awaiting interment. In Cimarrones, Quin- tana, Guimatas and many smaller s ments the bodies are only covered with a thin layer of earth, and the stench is in- tolerable. In Santa Clara City 8,000 from starvation. In Sa; are in direst need, an Se from Havana, none is forthcomin Lajas the cultivation zones are bringi stock of potatoes and relieving the suffe ing but in Cruces and a hundred fort centrals near by the people are dying like fic Near here I witnessed an officially styled “battle.” The guerrillas surrounded a Cu- ban patrol, who burst through, killing one Spaniard. His comrades rode in with the body and made no attempt to follow the enemy they outnumbered six to one. The day before Lieutenant Vasquez of the Bailen regiment there seized a cart con- taining seven bodies, all relatives from one hut, going to be buried. He threw the naked corpses out and carried off the cart to transport fodder. Buzzards soon start- ed to eat the bodies right in sight of the town of Condada. At Santa Domingo an old pacifico went outside town on Wed- nesday, was seized, and brought in as a rebel. Captain Lassa of the local cavalry, rode forward, and drove his sword through the prisoner’s body, and a volley ended nis misery. The corpse was then recognized as (hat of Manuel Fruitora, a rich farmer before the war, whose wife and daughter were starving in town, and the father went out with a special permit to dig potatoes. ‘Thus are General Bianco's decrees treate, and he may well punish this brutal officer, | who dominates the town of Santa Domingo | with impunity. The people here told me | they dared not go out. Colonel Carreras at Sagua also kills prisoners every other day. At Santo Marcos, a town burned by Wey- ler, two families only remain—most of the inhabitants are dead. Near Trinidad vul- tures were tearing to pleces the corpse of an old woman, while her daughter iay beside it, too weak to move or cry out. At Camerones I saw a boy of thirteen whose leg had been cut off by a soldier who tried to rob him of some sweet potatoes going to his sisters, who were nearly dead when people have 1 la Grane though ¢ j Sides. I foun: them. Here in 0 much distress, up from suffering thousands in nd town. How long will the United procrastinate? THE MONITOR. Cienfues but the sile BUILDING I¢ Was Entirely the Result of Private Enterprise. Representative Sperry of Connecticut takes an urvsually deep interest in the na- val features of ‘he present conflict, and tells the reason why. he said: To « Star reporter am one of the few men living ything to do with the building itor. The fact is, I had all my din the building of the boat it is history, stil) it is far from well wn that the Monitor was built by pri- Vate enterprise, cnd that the government refused to purchase her until she had demonstrated what she could The gave the buliders 100 days the ship and get her to Hamp- to meet the Merrimac, which ned the entire country by 1 perform accept with 4 a The government wouid ne nitor or hay hing tc had by risked in her owners like vessel revolu i am anxious re in bu Ss are tween the modera iron monstet -2- The Object of the War. ze to K war tee fougnt itor of The Evening St pourse, no sane Christian “wants With hexrifelt fervor we join in to the prayer “that it may Thee to give to all nations unit Good & the What wat dene hz P Come a little earlier in the Would he have reflected: Th I see robbing id torturing yonder traveler are not disturb- ing me. Why showd Kinterfere myself into troubie?” Our tmagi ion cannot entertain this picture for a moment. On the contrary, we see the Good Samari- tan, animated by the spirit of Him who drove the money changers from the temple, hastening to the rescue. Ruskin, a lover of . Writes: “But as it is at tend their own peril th their domini ) it is at the t any race ex- mn in mere desire of pow- tr own sll greater peril that they refuse tu undertake aggressive War, accore to their force never they are assured that their authority would 1 and protective. Nor need you sophistical objection of th ef knowing when a lp is needed, or when not. Make hational ¢ science nation- pn ly “ man who is y to take part in a noble quarrel me in dh at by whom, or at cause, his i eeded. © © @ you that the principle of non-inter- Ss new preached among is as nd cruel as th w t frenzy of . and differs from it only by being not only malignant, but dastardl, How many of ‘these wh voice is s inst the war ca ert that th ad even a few of the speeches de in Congress during the last three hs? Only si prejudic could nd the ur the kk 1 de the s of history, past nt, in our national legisla 2. to the American navy, truly, and the American Congress wh a w eceiv if we think our love of mality is express- ward the hosen representatives tion. Per- fection is to be found in no > body of men, but we insult the whole American and the ideals of statesmanship be a athed to t r suc ors by the framer of our Constitution when we doubt the in- rity of the he American it ts to be hoped 1 to seek the colle t awful impri results of war. Som z if the lack of patriotism ¥ ¥ pitiable. rs that th ntiment from them, has a flavor of n to lay n les their est st trial of pationc of a patriot” in red the wic tax. and sh blatant mot rate men, Laf a paltry of that save. whether There timent which ht conditions mi In conc from M oursel« locked 0 which the “If it v meht up ur system could sub- wut acts of cruelty tions to despotic ha power would be We st be con) to acknowledge ust produces no pernicious ef- Heetual and moral character ation. We deptore the outrages many revolutions. the the outrages the more assured revolt was necessary The violence of th es will always be proportion ‘ocity and ig- orance of th e ferocity and norance y have been arcustomed The government had prohib! m: it hed done t's best to inted with their duties The retribution was just which th eee nd their rights, ural. If they wer sailed with blind y it was because they had exacted an lly blind submiss of such revolutions that we always se the worst of them at first. Till men have been some time free they know not kow to use their freedom. * * * There is only one cure for the evils which newly acquired freed-m produces. and that cure ts freedom. When a prisoner first te: his cell he cannot bear the light of day: he ts unat.e to discriminate colors or recognize faces. Rut the remedy is not to remand him into his dungeon, but te acceystom him te the rays of the sun. The Wleze of truth and Nberty may at first dazzle and bewilder nations which have become half blind in the house of bondage. Rut jet them gaze on In a few vears men learn to rea- son. ‘The extreme violence of opinions sub- Hostile theortes correct each other. The scattered clements of truth cease to contend, and begin to esalesce. And at length a system of justice and order ts educed o of the acs. © © © If men are to wait for liberty till they become wise and goed In slavery they may Indeed wait forever. AN AMERICAN WOMAN. Beston Regiment Coming Here. Col. Hyde, quartermaster of Boston, hat received crders to prevision two regiments with traveling rations by May 11. One of these regiments will go to Chickamauga and the other to Washington.